Readers Letter to Carl Waits by Beverley Archer
Reader responds to Sportswriter Carl Waits’ column, “Youth sports participation rate dropping,” which was published in the October 3rd edition of the Century News.
Good for you Carl! You have once again reminded us of the benefits of playing sports for all interested youth, not just the ones whose parents can afford Select! In my limited exposure to youth, I have known two that were what I would call “Natural Athletes” needing only the encouragement and skill teaching that used to come from coaches, parents and school. But because these two individuals come from families who cannot afford Select, they sit on the bench most of the time. At the same time on my walks past the former high school baseball and softball fields, I often have the opportunity to observe Select teams in practice. By and large, it appears to me that in both sports, money is being paid by some parents to teach their youth very basic fundamentals that used to be part of school sports! Add the pressure to perform, and the criticism when you don’t win, and you can appreciate the attitude of young people who dropout of sports with an attitude of “who needs it anyway!”.
I feel very fortunate to have grown up at a time when sports were pure fun! I went to a high school with no organized sports for females, but a History teacher organized volleyball for us, and an AG teacher softball. They made me what I am today, a retired Senior Olympics Gold Medalist.
-Beverley Archer